18 people were injured after a gas explosion ripped through a strip club on Friday night. Most of the nearby building and the strip club itself were evacuated before the explosion happened or injuries could have been much worse. Nine firefighters and two police officers were injured during the explosion and expected to make full recoveries. Read more below.

Nine of those injured were Springfield firefighters, four were gas company employees, two were police officers, two were civilians, and one was a municipal water and sewer department employee, the mayor said. Earlier, a police sergeant said more civilians were hurt and all were transported to Baystate Medical Center or Mercy Medical Center.

Mayor Dominic Sarno said:

“Through God’s mercy, we are not aware of any fatalities,” Sarno said.